Justice News

Bullhead Man Sentenced For Domestic Assault By A Habitual Offender

United States Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that a Bullhead, South Dakota, man convicted of Domestic Assault by a Habitual Offender was sentenced on December 30, 2013, by U.S. District Judge Charles B. Kornmann.

Derek Archambault, a/k/a John Martinez, age 31, was sentenced to 46 months in custody, 3 years of Supervised Release, and a $200 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.

Archambault was indicted by a federal grand jury on July 17, 2013. He pled guilty on September 23, 2013.

The conviction stems from an incident occurring on May 20, 2010, when Archambault’s girlfriend called the Standing Rock Police Department and reported that her boyfriend had assaulted her. When a Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) officer arrived at her residence, the victim informed him that Archambault had been hitting her in the face. The officer took pictures of her mouth which was swollen and bruised, with cuts on her lips, and also pictures of scratches on her chest and neck.

The victim further reported that her son, who was 11 years old at the time, attempted to stop Archambault from hitting his mother, and Archambault punched her son in the face with a closed fist. The victim’s son demonstrated for the officer how Archambault hit him by using a closed fist and motioned toward his mouth. The victim also told the officer she has been assaulted by the defendant in the past, but he does not stay detained.

In an attempt to locate Archambault, the officer met with the school resource officer and an animal control officer, who advised that Archambault also goes by the name of John Martinez. The victim then arrived at the McLaughlin Police Department to speak with the officer again. She reported she had just met with Archambault and he broke her toe. The officer located Archambault and arrested him for the assault.

At the time this incident occurred, Archambault had two prior domestic abuse convictions in the Standing Rock Tribal Court for assaulting a prior intimate partner. In criminal case 08-22146, Archambault admitted to the BIA officer that he struck his girlfriend in the facial area causing bodily injury. In criminal case 09-20614, Archambault struck and kicked his girlfriend, breaking her ribs.

This case was investigated by the BIA. Assistant U.S. Attorney Troy R. Morley prosecuted the case.

Archambault was immediately turned over to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.